The confrontation of Shah Abbas I Safavid with the growing power of Qezelbash

Ghezelbash were an influential force in the formation and stabilization of the Safavid government.The gradual handing over of the states to the heads of Qezelbash clans, which was initially done in return for their military services, made the Safavid government aware of the danger of their rebellion. The Ghezelbash gradually increased their political and economic power by maintaining the military function, and this provided the ground for their intervention in political issues and as a result created problems for the Safavid government.Although the Safavid government was aware of the threat of increasing influence of Qezelbash from the beginning, but until the time of Shah Abbas (996-1038 AH), the policies implemented to reduce their influence and power did not have any results.Shah Abbas, while understanding the government’s need for the military services of the Qezelbash, sought to reduce and weaken their political and economic power. With a historical approach and a library method that relies on historical texts and analysis of source information, the present article aims to answer the following question, “With what measures did Shah Abbas reduce the growing power of Qezelbash”?